First responders can now access BeamFirst from California-based BeamLive via the FirstNet app catalogue.

BeamFirst delivers situational awareness and first responder communication and safety through near real-time IoT content sharing, live video, sub-second GPS tracking and navigation, IoT sensor alerts, warnings and notifications, plus voice and text, all on one screen of any mobile device.

Following a rigorous review process, BeamFirst is now verified by FirstNet, America’s public safety communications platform, and accessible via the FirstNet app catalogue.

This enables migration from legacy systems to true broadband communications for emergency response. Designed by first responders for first responders, the easy-to-use service functions on the devices people own and use. BeamFirst delivers the capabilities of multiple apps in one comprehensive service increasing efficiencies and saving money.

The FirstNet app catalogue is geared to first responders, including more than 150 apps relevant to public safety’s mission. This gives FirstNet subscribers a dedicated location to find meaningful products that have been specifically reviewed for use with FirstNet services. Before any mobile service can be added to the catalogue, it must pass stringent third-party tests for security, relevancy, data privacy and more.

“Our objective is to turn minutes into seconds for emergency response and first responder safety,” said BeamLive’s CEO Mehrdad Negahban. “BeamFirst has been designed by first responders for first responders. BeamFirst is noted for its ease of use and training and is intended to be utilised as an everyday mobile communication tool that can be heightened and expanded during crisis scenarios to enable near real-time, multi-agency communication and collaboration.”

Negahban highlighted the BeamLive executive team members with emergency response experience whose input was instrumental.

Achieving a FirstNet Verified designation means BeamFirst is vetted and trusted for public safety, meeting FirstNet app requirements. Additionally, FirstNet subscribers will also be able to take advantage of BeamFirst while benefitting from the enhanced security provided by the FirstNet network core, which is the only physically separate network core dedicated entirely to public safety in America.

Built with AT&T, in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority, FirstNet is improving public safety communications with innovative capabilities to strengthen first responders’ incident response. And it’s helping them connect to the critical information they need every day and in every emergency.

“We only add applications to the FirstNet app catalogue that are highly secure, high quality and relevant to public safety,” said Scott Agnew, assistant vice president for the FirstNet programme at AT&T. “And we’re pleased that BeamFirst is now verified and available to FirstNet subscribers. BeamFirst will bring public safety additional capabilities to enhance situational awareness and provide a clear and actionable operating picture while heightening safety levels for first responders through enhanced mobile communication, monitoring and tracking in emergency scenarios.”

Jeff Bratcher, chief network and technology officer for the First Responder Network Authority, added: “Through our work with first responders, we heard their need for innovative applications to assist with their lifesaving mission. FirstNet is helping to address these needs, and we are pleased to welcome BeamFirst to the FirstNet app catalogue.”

BeamLive, based in Silicon Valley and London, developed and patented its mobile IoT communications platform that can be customised to meet the needs of users. This system configures dynamic IoT data from various inputs including video, GPS, home, vehicle and medical devices into sub-second latency, mobile messages and relevant content for a target audience.

Artificial intelligence and custom algorithms are applied to live-stream data to enable mission-critical communications and generate time-sensitive, actionable knowledge. The company’s communication-as-a-service (CaaS) cloud-based platform is developer friendly, which enables a variety of products and services to be launched quickly and inexpensively on Windows, Apple, Android and Linux operating systems.